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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your payment is being processed" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- b.bank_england@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m.morgan@qualityservice.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2015 15:24:53 -0000
Subject: RE: Urgent Reply Needed!
Attention Fund Beneficiary.
Following the signal we received from our local banks & Affiliated bank in Africa/London Concerning your payment from reserve account they have with us, that your payment will now be effected from our bank (BARCLAYS BANK PLC) London.During the auditing and verifying of your files it was discovered from the records of outstanding transfer's due for payment. Many officials and some of your agents from the source origin of your fund have delayed your payment for one reason and the other, following the outcome of our board of directors meeting with other commercial banks here in London.
We hereby bring to your notice that your name falls among the top twenty Lottery Winner/next of kin that will be receiving their payment, which has been delayed. I wish to officially notify you that your payment is being processed and the part payment of Five Million, Five Hundred thousand United States Dollars ($5.5Million USD) will be released to you as soon as you re-confirm your information for us to cross check with the one we have in our records.READ THE ATTACHMENT LETTER FOR MORE OFFICIAL DETAILS.
In receipt of the above information, your payment will be approved and paid to you by wired transfer to your nominated bank account or paid through ATM CARD. You are advised to get back to me immediately for more clarifications.
Best Regards,
Mr. David Moore.
Remittance Department Barclays Bank
Email: b.bank_england@consultant.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
